Magnolia tree named ‘MJK-MC1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Magnolia  tree named ‘MJK-MC1’, characterized by its upright and columnar in overall tree form; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; relatively large caliper trunk; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches providing a full and densely foliated appearance; sturdy, thick, leathery and durable green-colored leaves that resist biotic and abiotic damage; late bud break which reduces late frost damage to flowers and leaves; flowering on first year&#39;s growth; freely flowering habit with numerous large white and reddish purple-colored flowers; and good landscape performance and cold hardiness.

Botanical designation: Magnolia cylindrica.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MJK-MC1’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT

The Inventor/Applicant asserts that no publications nor advertisementsrelating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred morethan one year prior to the effective filing date of this application.Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from adirect or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant.Inventor/Applicant claims a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C.102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but lessthan one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofdeciduous Magnolia tree, botanically known as Magnolia cylindrica,commercially referred to as the Huangshan Magnolia and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘MJK-MC1’.

The new Magnolia tree originated from an open-pollination in Stayton,Oreg. in 1999 of an unnamed selection of Magnolia cylindrica, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection ofMagnolia cylindrica as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Magnoliatree was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single plant fromwithin the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlledenvironment in Stayton, Oreg. in July, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Magnolia tree by grafting on Magnoliakobus rootstock in a controlled greenhouse environment in Stayton, Oreg.since May, 2015 has shown that the unique features of this new Magnoliatree are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Trees of the new Magnolia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhatwith variations in environmental conditions such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘MJK-MC1’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘MJK-MC1’ as a new and distinct Magnolia tree:

-   -   1. Upright and columnar in overall tree form; lateral branches        relatively short and stout.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.    -   3. Relatively large caliper trunk.    -   4. Freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches        providing a full and densely foliated appearance.    -   5. Sturdy, thick, leathery and durable green-colored leaves that        resist biotic and abiotic damage.    -   6. Late bud break which reduces late frost damage to flowers and        leaves.    -   7. Flowering on first year's growth.    -   8. Freely flowering habit with numerous large white and reddish        purple-colored flowers.    -   9. Good landscape performance and cold hardiness.

Trees of the new Magnolia can be compared to trees of the female parentselection. Trees of the new Magnolia differ primarily from trees of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Trees of the new Magnolia are narrower and more columnar than        trees of the female parent selection.    -   2. Trees of the new Magnolia flower on first year's growth        whereas trees of the female parent selection do not start        flowering until about seven years after propagation.    -   3. Trees of the new Magnolia are more freely flowering than        trees of the female parent selection.    -   4. Trees of the new Magnolia are relatively more resistant to        pathogens and pests common to Magnolias than trees of the female        parent selection.

Trees of the new Magnolia can be compared to trees of Magnolia xsoulangiana ‘Galaxy’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, treesof the new Magnolia and ‘Galaxy’ differ primarily in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Trees of the new Magnolia are columnar and dense whereas        trees of ‘Galaxy’ are more open and sparse.    -   2. Trees of the new Magnolia have strong and straight trunks        whereas trees of ‘Galaxy’ have weak trunks and require staking        to grow upright.    -   3. Bud break of trees of the new Magnolia is later than bud        break of trees of ‘Galaxy’ which reduces late frost damage to        flowers and leaves.    -   4. Flowers of trees of the new Magnolia are white and reddish        purple in color whereas flowers of trees of ‘Galaxy’ are light        lavender in color.    -   5. Trees of the new Magnolia are more resistant to pathogens and        pests common to Magnolias than trees of ‘Galaxy’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Magnolia tree showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Magnolia tree grown in an outdoor nursery.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 ) is a side perspective viewof a typical mature tree of ‘MJK-MC1’ grown during the winter.

The photograph on the second sheet (FIG. 2 ) is a side perspective viewof a typical flowering mature tree of ‘MJK-MC1’ grown during the spring.

The photograph on the third sheet (FIG. 3 ) is a close up view oftypical leaves of ‘MJK-MC1’.

The photograph on the fourth sheet (FIG. 4 ) is a close-up view oftypical flowers of ‘MJK-MC1’.

The photograph on the fifth sheet (FIG. 5 ) is side perspective views oftypical flowers of ‘MJK-MC1’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe trees grown during the late winter, spring and earlysummer in an outdoor nursery in Stayton, Oreg. and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Magnolia tree production. Trees used inthe photographs and description were ten years old. During theproduction of the trees, day temperatures ranged from about 4° C. toabout 26° C. and night temperatures ranged from about −6° C. to about13° C. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Magnolia cylindrica ‘MJK-MC1’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Magnolia            cylindrica, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Magnolia            cylindrica, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Plants of the new Magnolia tree are propagated in the            early spring by grafting scions of the new Magnolia tree            onto named or unnamed selections of Magnolia kobus            rootstock.-   Tree description:    -   -   Tree form and growth habit.—Deciduous flowering tree;            upright and columnar in overall tree form; lateral branches            relatively short and stout; moderately vigorous growth habit            and moderate growth rate; relatively large caliper trunk;            freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches            providing a full and densely foliated appearance.        -   Tree height.—About 9.14 meters.        -   Tree width (spread).—About 1.83 meters.        -   Trunk caliper.—About 25 cm.        -   Growth rate, height.—About 70 to 100 cm per year.        -   Number of lateral branches per tree.—About 35 primary            lateral branches each with about 20 secondary lateral            branches.        -   Branch length.—About 91 cm to 122 cm.        -   Branch diameter.—About 2.5 cm to 3.8 cm.        -   Branch internode length.—About 12.7 cm to 15.2 cm.        -   Branch angle orientation.—Mostly upwardly, about 5° to 10°            from vertical.        -   Branch strength.—Strong.        -   Branch texture and luster.—Smooth, glabrous; matte.        -   Branch color.—Close to 198D.        -   Bark, mature and immature, texture and luster.—Smooth,            glabrous; matte.        -   Bark, mature and immature, color.—Close to 198D.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 8 cm.        -   Width.—About 5 cm.        -   Shape.—Elliptic to obovate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margins.—Entire.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth,            glabrous; coriaceous; matte.        -   Color.—When developing, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146A. Fully developed, upper and lower surfaces: Close to            146A; venation, close to 146A; color becoming close to 200D            in the autumn.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper and            lower surfaces: Close to 145B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Large solitary flowers with            numerous flowers developing per tree during the flowering            season; flowers face mostly upright.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Magnolia begin            flowering in mid-March in Oregon.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 10 cm.        -   Flower length (depth).—About 7 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm.            Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Pubescent; matte. Color:            Close to 197B.        -   Tepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About six tepals arranged            in a single whorl. Length: About 5.5 cm. Width: About            3.2 cm. Shape: Spatulate. Apex: Obtuse, occasionally retuse            to emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; not            undulate. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; coriaceous; matte. Luster, upper and lower            surfaces: Matte. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 155B; venation, close to 155B; color does            not change with subsequent development. When opening and            fully opened, lower surface: Close to 155B; proximal flare            and towards the base, close to 58A; venation, close to 155B            and 58A; color does not change with subsequent development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About six sepals arranged            in a single whorl. Length: About 4.5 cm. Width: About            1.5 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin:            Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;            coriaceous; matte. Texture and luster, lower surface:            Pubescent; coriaceous; matte. Color: When opening and fully            opened, upper surface: Close to 197B. When opening and fully            opened, lower surface: Close to 197B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 5 mm.            Strength: Strong. Aspect: About 45° from stem axis. Texture            and luster: Rough; matte. Color: Close to 198D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: Numerous. Filament            length: About 2 cm. Filament color: Close to 58A. Anther            shape: Linear. Anther size: About 1 mm by 10 mm. Anther            color: Close to 58A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color:            Close to 22D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil            length: About 1 cm. Style color: Close to 149D. Stigma            diameter: About 2.5 mm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color:            Close to 149D. Fruits: Fruit type: Follicetum. Quantity per            plant: One fruit develops per flower. Length: About 6 cm.            Diameter: About 2 cm. Shape: Cone-shaped. Texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 59C and            142A. Seeds: Quantity per fruit: About 80. Length: About            1 cm. Diameter: About 1 cm. Shape: Disc-shaped. Texture and            luster: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 199B.-   Temperature tolerance: Trees of the new Magnolia have been observed    to have superior cold and heat tolerance and tolerate temperatures    ranging from −25° C. to 45° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness    Zones 5 to 8.-   Pathogen & pest tolerance: Trees of the new Magnolia have been    observed to be resistant to Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe spp.) and Leaf    Spot (Rhynchosporium spp., Dreschlera spp. and Bipolaris spp.)    Additionally, trees of the new Magnolia have been observed to be    resistant to spider mites (Oligonychus ununguis and Tetranycus    urticae) and snails (Helix spp.). To date, trees of the new Magnolia    have been not been observed to be tolerant to other pathogens and    pests common to Magnolia trees.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Magnolia tree named ‘MJK-MC1’ asillustrated and described.